by Phil Houseal | May 13, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
May 13, 2026–I need potatoes. I’m grilling steaks. The meal requires a traditional side dish that is delicious with gravy. You have potatoes. Piles of potatoes. You grow them in your garden, and you have dug up more than your family can eat in a reasonable amount of...
by Phil Houseal | May 6, 2026 | All Articles, Philosophy
May 6, 2026–The most effective leader is not who you think it is. Many of us buy into the idea of “servant leadership.” As I understand it, the concept means that in order to lead an organization effectively, you need to perform all the tasks you ask your minions to...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 29, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
April 29, 2026–I had dropped off my tax forms at the post office and, as I am oft accused of doing, abruptly headed out the door. The clerk called out to remind me to take my receipt as proof of mailing. I must have appeared impatient, as she good-naturedly explained...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 22, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
April 22, 2026–Have you ever made a terrible faux pas in public and wished you could just disappear? Good news! You’re already gone! There was a psychology experiment back in 2000 that tested something called the “invisible guest theory.” Student guinea...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 15, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
April 15, 2026–Have you ever wanted to call yourself an “award winning” whatever-it-is-you-do? Maybe it’s an award-winning plumber. Or an award-winning wedding cake baker. Or an award-winning human resources manager. Or dog walker. Or seat filler. I always wanted to...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 8, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
April 8, 2026–Have you heard that people are now setting up religions worshipping Artificial Intelligence? This should not be unexpected. After all, the various manifestations of AI present themselves as all-knowing, all-seeing entities that provide every answer to...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 1, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
April 1–I showed a young person my column last week, and when she got to the bottom of the page, she asked, “Where is the rest of it?” I realized she didn’t understand how to read the “jump line” at the bottom of the column. It’s easy to laugh. But then I realized...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 25, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
March 25, 2026–How many of you coffee bean explorers have sailed the seas with Starbuck, scaled the Andes with Juan Valdez, and saved a marriage with Mrs. Olsen, only to return to a cup of instant? I was never a dedicated coffee drinker. I grew up in the days of...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 18, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
March 18, 2026–A most pivotal change in culture happened in our lifetimes. Yet I would bet most of you haven’t recognized it. This simple conversion changed at a base level how we view and interact in the world. No part of society is untouched by it. Yet in a way we...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 11, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
March 11, 2026–Today I’m asking readers a question my 10-year-old granddaughter asked me that I cannot answer: Which 10-year period in your life was your least favorite? And which 10-year period would you exchange it for? First of all, I have no idea where this...
